Rauma, Finland

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Rauma
native_name =
nickname =
motto = Kyl Raum o ain Raum


imagesize =
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image_shield = Rauma.vaakuna.svg
image_dot_

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dot_x = 63
dot_y = 175
dot_map_caption = Location of Rauma in Finland
dot_mapsize =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Finland
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Western Finland
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Satakunta
subdivision_type3 = Sub-region
subdivision_name3 = Rauma
leader_title = Municipal manager
leader_name = Arno Miettinen
established_title = Charter
established_date = 1442
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 897.36
area_total_sq_mi =
area_land_km2 = 290.81
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_km2 = 600.71
area_water_sq_mi =
area_water_percent =
area_urban_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
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population_as_of = July 2008
population_note =
population_total = 36,459
population_density_km2 = 125.4
population_density_sq_mi =
population_metro =
population_blank1_title = Demonym
population_blank1 = Raumalainen (Finnish), Raumlaine (Dialect)
population_density_metro_km2 =
population_density_metro_sq_mi =
population_urban =
population_density_urban_km2 =
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timezone = EET
utc_offset = +2
timezone_DST = EEST
utc_offset_DST = +3
latd=61 |latm=07 |lats=45 |latNS=N
longd=21 |longm=30 |longs=20 |longEW=E
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
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website = [http://www.rauma.fi www.rauma.fi]
footnotes =
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Rauma (IPA2|'rɑumɑ, or "Raumo" in Swedish) is a town of ca. 36,500 [http://www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi/vrk/files.nsf/files/36DDBE780A4FE019C22574A3002B54A9/$file/080731.htm Finnish Population Registry Center] August 19, 2008 — Population by municipalities] inhabitants on the west coast of Finland, 92 kilometres north of Turku, and 50 kilometres south of Pori. Granted town privileges on May 17 1442 (then under the rule of Sweden), Rauma is known of its high quality lace (since the 18th century), and of the old wooden architecture of its centre (Old Rauma, Vanha Rauma), which is a Unesco world heritage site.

History

In the 14th century, before being declared as a town, Rauma had a Franciscan monastery and a Catholic church. In 1550, the townsmen of Rauma were ordered to relocate to Helsinki, but this was successfully countered and Rauma could continue its growth.

Practically the whole wooden town of Rauma was devastated in the fires of 1640 and 1682. The wooden city centre, which is how large the town was until 1809, has approximately 600 wooden buildings. The neo-renaissance style of many of the houses is a result of prosperity brought on by seafaring. In 1897 Rauma had the largest fleet of sailing boats in Finland, totalling 57 vessels. Goods were mainly exported to Germany, Stockholm and the Baltic states. In the 1890s, Rauma got a teacher's college (a 'seminar'), which was later annexed to the University of Turku. A part of the department of education still exists in Rauma.

Industry

After World War II, Rauma developed into an industrial city, the main industries being shipbuilding, paper and pulp mills, and metal industry. Rauma is also the fifth largest port in Finland with almost six million tonnes of shipping per year. Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant is located next to Rauma, in Eurajoki.Near Rauma, there is the static-inverter plant of Fenno-Skan.

Transport

Rauma is located between Turku and Pori by the E8 road. Finnish national road 12 starts from Rauma and it is being extended to the port of Rauma. The roadwork is supposed to be finished in the fall 2008.

A railroad connection from Kokemäki is in active freight use, as there is a straight connection to the heavy industry areas and to the port of Rauma. The rail passenger traffic ended in 1988.

Oras Liikenne Oy runs the local bus traffic and it has 3 lines. The hub for the local buses is located in Savila. Long distance buses take passengers directly to Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, for example.

The nearest airport is located in Pori. The port of Rauma serves only freight ships on frequent basis.

Culture

Rauma has its own dialect of Finnish, "Rauman giäl". The dialect inherits words from languages such as Swedish, English and German due to the seafaring past. The dialect has been diluted into mainstream Finnish in day-to-day use, but it is fairly well studied (mainly by Hj. Nortamo) and practiced as a hobby.

Lace Week

Annual Lace Week has been arranged in Rauma since year 1971. During the Lace week local craftspeople arrange small exhibitions in the Old Rauma area. The Lace week culminates to the Black Lace Night, when the small boutiques are open late night, various shows and concerts are held and people dress in black lace.

ports

Rauman Lukko is an ice hockey team that hails from Rauma, playing in SM-liiga. Their home arena is Äijänsuo Arena. Local football teams are Pallo-Iirot and FC Rauma. These two teams share the same home field at Äijänsuo sports centre.
Sea City Storm is an american football team playing in the Finnish American Football Association's 2nd division. Fera is a women's Finnish baseball team, whose home field is the Länsi-Suomi Arena at Otanlahti sports centre.Rauma also has an own orienteering club, Rasti-Lukko, two Basketball teams known as Kaaron Roima and Rauma Basket, a rinkball team called UKP and a floorball team named SalBa.

Recreation

One popular saying goes that every family in Rauma owns a boat - this is not true, though the city has room for ca. 2,800 [http://www.fma.fi/media/julkaisusarjat/Veneilyraportti_5_2005.pdf Finnish Maritime Administration] August 19, 2008 — Boating in Finland and its economic impacts] boats at its docks. People can use their own boats or water buses to get to the Kylmäpihlaja lighthouse that doubles as a hotel and recreation site. Water buses take people to Reksaari island and former garrison island of Kuuskajaskari. The both islands are in recreational use.

Merger of municipalities

Rauma and the surrounding municipality of Rauman maalaiskunta ("rural municipality of Rauma") were merged in 1993, continued in 2007 with the merging of municipality of Kodisjoki. The municipality of Lappi is to be merged to Rauma in 2009.

Twin Cities

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External links

* [http://www.rauma.fi/english/default.htm Rauma] – Official site
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Rauma Rauma travel guide] from Wikitravel
* [http://www.lansi-suomi.fi/ Länsi-Suomi] – The city's most widely read newspaper
* [http://www.uusirauma.fi/ Uusi Rauma] – Local free paper that annually prints a newspaper in local dialect.

References